Small Diameter Corneal Inlays

Abstract

Small diameter corneal inlays adapted to change the corneal surface curvature to provide central near vision and peripheral distance vision.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of implanting a corneal inlay within a cornea of an eye:
 altering the curvature of a first region of the anterior surface of a cornea by implanting an inlay in the cornea of an eye, wherein the inlay has a diameter of 4 mm or less, and wherein distance vision is provided by a second region of the cornea peripheral to the first region.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first region is smaller than the pupil of the eye. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of the inlay is less than the diameter of a dilated or undilated pupil of the eye. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inlay has a diameter of about 3 mm or less. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is substantially the same as the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is different than the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein implanting the inlay within the cornea changes the refraction of the cornea due to both the curvature alteration in the first region and the difference in the index of refraction between the inlay and corneal tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein implanting the inlay within the cornea increases the curvature of the cornea in the first region. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is greater than the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein altering the curvature in the first region comprises increasing the curvature in the first region. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first region is a central region of the anterior surface of the cornea. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: cutting a flap in the cornea; lifting the flap to expose a corneal bed; positioning the inlay on the corneal bed; and repositioning the flap over the inlay. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: creating a pocket in corneal tissue; and positioning the inlay in the pocket. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising leaving unaltered the curvature of a region of the corneal peripheral to the first region. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein altering the curvature of the first region increases the power of the cornea in the first region. 
     
     
         16 . A method of implanting a corneal inlay within a cornea of an eye:
 altering the curvature of a first region of the anterior surface of a cornea by implanting an inlay in the cornea of an eye, wherein the inlay has a diameter less than the diameter of a dilated or undilated pupil of the eye, and wherein distance vision is provided by a second region of the cornea peripheral to the first region.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first region is smaller than the pupil of the eye. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inlay has a diameter of about 4 mm or less. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inlay has a diameter of about 3 mm or less. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is substantially the same as the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is different than the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein implanting the inlay within the cornea changes the refraction of the cornea due to both the curvature alteration in the first region and the difference in the index of refraction between the inlay and corneal tissue. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein implanting the inlay within the cornea increases the curvature of the cornea in the first region. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is greater than the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16  wherein altering the curvature in the first region comprises increasing the curvature in the first region. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first region is a central region of the anterior surface of the cornea. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: cutting a flap in the cornea; lifting the flap to expose a corneal bed; positioning the inlay on the corneal bed; and repositioning the flap over the inlay. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: creating a pocket in corneal tissue; and
 positioning the inlay in the pocket. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising leaving unaltered the curvature of a region of the corneal peripheral to the first region. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 16  wherein altering the curvature of the first region increases the power of the cornea in the first region. 
     
     
         31 . A method of implanting a corneal inlay within a cornea of an eye:
 implanting a corneal inlay within a cornea of an eye, wherein the inlay has a diameter less than the diameter of a dilated or undilated pupil of the eye, wherein implanting the corneal inlay alters the curvature of a first region of the anterior surface of a cornea; and   leaving unaltered the curvature of a second region of the corneal peripheral to the first region, wherein the second region is within the pupil of the eye.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein distance vision is provided in the second region. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the first region is smaller than the pupil of the eye. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the diameter of the inlay is 4 mm or less. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the inlay has a diameter of about 3 mm or less. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is substantially the same as the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is different than the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31  wherein implanting the inlay within the cornea changes the refraction of the cornea due to both the curvature alteration in the first region and the difference in the index of refraction between the inlay and corneal tissue. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein implanting the inlay within the cornea increases the curvature of the cornea in the first region. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the inlay has a refractive index that is greater than the refractive index of the cornea. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31  wherein altering the curvature in the first region comprises increasing the curvature in the first region. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the first region is a central region of the anterior surface of the cornea. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising: cutting a flap in the cornea; lifting the flap to expose a corneal bed; positioning the inlay on the corneal bed; and repositioning the flap over the inlay. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising: creating a pocket in corneal tissue; and
 positioning the inlay in the pocket. 
 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 31  wherein altering the curvature of the first region increases the power of the cornea in the first region.